Central Floridians reach out to relatives in Myanmar

The day after Tropical Cyclone Nargis blasted Myanmar's western coast, Khin Nu called every hour trying desperately to reach her mother.

She still hasn't heard from her.

"All Sunday, I called . . . like a crazy person," said Nu, a caseworker for Catholic Charities of Central Florida. "I pray she is OK."

During the past year, nearly 500 Myanmar refugees have found their way to Florida after a crackdown on pro-Democracy protesters in the military-ruled country, according to the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

The Myanmar community in Central Florida is small -- fewer than 100 people, leaders say. They gather in mid-April for Burmese New Year and congregate at the Buddhist temples in the area.

But Saturday's cyclone has brought natives of Myanmar -- also known as Burma -- closer together.

"We pray for their suffering," said Than Chokun Sunan, abbot at Wat Florida Dhammaram, a Buddhist temple and monastery in Kissimmee with about 25 Myanmar members.

Sunan said the temple was planning to collect food and supplies from the community.

Some have made contact with family members. Lavender Hong of Orlando received a cell-phone call Saturday from her sister, who lives near a coastal area of Myanmar.

Like many residents, Hong's sister didn't know about the approaching cyclone until it was too late.

"The night the storm landed, my sister said debris was falling so hard on the house, she thought the house would fall apart," said Hong, 29.

Growing up in Myanmar, Nu said, she remembers the heavy rains during the monsoon season. But she never imagined such a devastating storm.

Nu was able to reach her husband's family Monday.

Her 80-year-old mother-in-law was emotionally shaken by the pounding winds and rains.

"She was frightened," said Nu, 40. "She said she had never, ever experienced such a storm."

As of Wednesday night, Nu was still trying to reach her elderly mother and sister, who live in Yangon. Her last contact with them was Friday, when her sister sent an e-mail saying the storm was approaching.

Nu's 8-year-old daughter, Audrey Myat, has tried her best to console her.

"Grandmother will be fine," her daughter told her. "Don't worry."

On Wednesday, neighboring countries and the United Nations were finally allowed to dispatch planes carrying supplies after being barred by the Myanmar government, which has ruled since 1962.

About 1 million people are thought to be homeless, and millions are without food and water. Up to 40 percent of the victims are thought to be children.

Video footage of the disaster zone showed flattened villages and smashed bridges. Hundreds of Buddhist monks have helped clear roads of debris after police and military assistance failed to show up.

"Not many people knew about the storm [approaching]," Sunan said. "If they did, they could have taken precautions and fled the area."